Mason of Bar X Ranch

ted, each group going in an opposite direction. The plan was to make a wide detour and beat the mountains thoroughly. The leader of each party swore he would

Scotty and MacNutt, with a few others he was not so well acquainted with. Big Joe's command was ordered to circle the mountains and search all availa

at the Bar X ranch by nightf

them with amazing endurance, and even Scotty had begun to treat him with a little more respect. Mason was firmly convinced that the man had come among them with some secret purpose, and he determined to question him at the first favorable opportunity. There wer

hing peculiar about the man outside of his levity, and

night to confer as to their next move. They had failed miserably

y this time. On their hunt they ha

perhuman as he untiringly urge

ft him, and except for a faint scar on his temple

d them to make Ricker's at once in th

nd watch all night. We can stay just far enough away so they won't get on to us, and mayb

r did some qu

-night at Bar X, but if Powers is with the halfbreed, and I am conv

here for supplies or something, and we will stand a chance of c

the ranch before it became too dark. Scotty was delighted that his plan had been

d we will surround the house and keep watch all night. If nothing develops we

nderstood by all. By the time they reached Ricker'

nd they all settled down

ground staring into the inky darkness, for the stars had disappeared and a faint breeze had sprung up, this watching was dull business. He was statione

aid in a low whisper as he made o

he other returned in a like whisper. "

any trace of Josephine, it all had raised havoc with his nerves. He realized at last that he was in love with her and the thoug

this brandy and brace up,"

taking any strong drink, but he knew if he was t

eed it, and we can't have any one lag on us now; the boys are prep

of lagging behind while Josephine was in danger, he resolved, gritting his teeth. He started to return to his former post, but Tex insisted that they keep watch together. Mason agreed, a

x?" he question

he cowboy answered in a scarcely audible whisper. "I'm going

. The answering signal came back to them

he boys didn't hear or see anything, so all we can do is

e cowboys on his mission to Wan

cident a light appear

ng now," Tex m

house and to the watchers' astonishment Waneda, th

to this time of night?" growled

him in answer to the sign

he said guardedly, addressing Te

some one is sick in the house and she's going to the Post for medicine.

ad not heard a sound or seen a

ine you heard, Tex

ed like a scuffling noise," Tex retorted angrily. "I'm watching that light now. The girl

hours before daylight, and keep a closer watch than ever. If you hear any noise that sounds su

vanished. Tex, who had been watchin

not holding the girl up," he s

a girl to be up to anything croo

wboy stared

Mexican, all are greasers to me. Ain't getting sweet on her be yo

face r

ly. "No offense meant, Jack," he returned ear

k of dawn appeared. Big Joe gave the recall signal. When the cowboys had assembled h

d any luck," he confided to him as th

n no

ne to-day if Bud hasn't already

od news, the first good news since Josephine's disappearance. The ranch

appointed at the news, but after saying she would leave the message in Bud's hands, she left. It was addressed to Mr. Mason. After waiting a reasonable length of time, for he didn't know when you were coming home,

s to repay Mr. Mason for his kindness to her when she was attacked by the halfbreed. She got hold of inf

nable," comme

pped her now," h

e herself with joy at the thought o

her," the ranch owner was saying, "but soon

em to go and find her?" Big Joe

" the ranch o

nder. "Why, we were through there thr

about this," Mason decl

Josephine' captors moving about from p

s getting

over with the boys," he said, turning

se they made the cowboys acquainte

to have held the girl up as I wanted to. Somebody broke through our line last night, and the girl lef

us manner. Mason was leaning against the bun

and make for the Gap. Bud may need h

down the trail. His eyes had caught sight of

s dog," he

, Jack?" Big Joe

wn the trail and is limping b

e asked as he came out of the bu

red, "he must have

he called, for the dog

ight as he limped up to Mas

to examine the injured member. "Why, what's this?" His eye

d was holding it up for the others to see

a note!" he cried, aghast, sta

ng it up he rea

ys," he cried, his

's collar and sent him home. That message the Spanish girl bro

Big Joe instantly began giving orders to the cowboys

nd resolute. "I know a short cut to the Gap, and we'll be in at the

ling, and bending low on their horses' necks

and join in the race against death, b

he way we are going into the mount

e ranch owner would know why they had left in such a hurry. Scotty, who ha

Bud, but start blazing away at the halfbreed's gang and draw their fire. When we get there we'll open fire on t

. Scotty was riding low in the saddle, jocke

uspense. His horse seemed

time?" There was a catch to his voice as he put

erything will go all right, but I am afraid he will attempt to join Bud and get wiped out along with the rest of them. He's such a hot-headed chump

t range of foothills. Here, the climbing was extremely difficult, and

eading up into the mountains

h a prayer on his lips, but the faithful animal caught a secure

id cheerfully to his horse,

l they reached a small plateau high in the mountains. Big Joe,

" he said as the cowboys dism

until he and his men show themselves through the pass. What we have got to do is to pick off the halfbreed's men before they can get in their deadly work. I figure that they will show the

mington repeater. Lying prone on the ground, they covered the plateau of Devil's

eyes glued upon, they saw the form of a ma

e pass, get that fellow!" Big

is mouth a shot rang out and the

m low had come from s

some of his fine work," Bi

charged through the pass and taken to cover. Scotty's shot had warned Bud that something was amiss and had put him on his

mbush had been turned into a si

ill lay where he had fallen. Big Joe commenced si

fbreed's gang, wonder where he

hat joined Ricker's lately. They are the men that Bud ro

be an easy matter for the halfbreed to get them to j

a shot still farther off to their left. T

em again," said with a grin. "He

nger," declared Big Joe. "Get ready for

breed broke and ran. The men that Bud had sent to prison held firm, and walked straight into his fire with curses on their lips. Bud had been slightly wounded, and with bullets kicking up the earth all around him, it

fbreed, they are trying to es

wards they were. He immediately set out after them in the hope that they would lead him to Jose

lfbreed and Powers, and rescue Josephine, if it cost him his life. He kept a sharp lookout for Scotty, but could see no sign of him. Just ahead of him was a

evolver, emptying its chambers after them. A yell of defiance was flung back at him. Th

mined on a ruse. Powers had halted and was taking careful aim at him. Mason abruptly checked his hor

y saw him fall, thinking he had been killed. Mason had dropped near a large rock and kept a firm g

as one of Mason's bullets nipped his face. He wheeled his horse and was off in a flash. It was Mason's turn to be in an

e paid no attention to the cut-throat's b

omething like equal term

esperate, and fired back at him several times, but his aim was poor

was making frantic efforts to reach it ahead of his pursuer. Mason

, old boy, we're going

ted, and looking to his weapons, plunged after him. He could hear his man from an occasional stone he dislodged. He was climbing the steep side of the gorge. Soon, the faint sounds from the outla

he beheld a sight that brought a cry of rage from his lip

threw his rifle

, or I'll fire,"

startled, and wit

y, swinging Josephine in

red his gu

rs taunted him, still holdi

Drop the girl and fight me like a man. I'll fight you empty handed." Suit

s sne

ason's horrified eyes. "I'll kill her with this knife if you don't leave your guns here. Go back down the gorge an

red to gain time. "If you harm that

st had borne down on Powers. Now, she had ceased st

ss. He was in fear his other pu

inutes' start or the gi

obey the fiend's demand and take a chance of rescuing the girl later, when the sh

the yell and shot had come from, and saw Scotty standing on a huge boulder holding a smoking rifle

d quickly t

her eyes swimming with tear